Ankle Brachial Index Screening and Improving Peripheral Artery Disease Detection and Outcomes

Lower extremity peripheral artery disease (PAD) affects an estimated 8.5 million adults in the United States and 202 million adults worldwide. PAD consists of atherosclerosis of the lower extremity arteries, resulting in inadequate oxygen supply to lower extremity muscles during walking activity. People with PAD typically walk only 1 to 3 blocks before having to stop and rest because of ischemic leg symptoms. PAD is also a marker for the presence of atherosclerotic disease in the coronary and cerebrovascular arteries. Consistent with this phenomenon, people with PAD have higher rates of acute coronary events, ischemic stroke, and mortality, compared with people without PAD.
Source: JAMA - Category: General Medicine Source Type: research